I was one of the suckers who chose “eat healthier” as a New Year’s resolution this year. I wasn’t at the point of ruining my health, but some of my go-to meals — especially after having a baby — left me feeling really sluggish and tired all the time. That means, goodbye pasta! Hello, zoodles. Oh, how I wish there was a name for you that wasn’t “zoodles,” but here we are.
Yes, I ended up cutting carbs.
But I focused more on protein. That meant more chicken, more seafood, and more eggs. In fact, if you follow the Weight Watchers points system, eggs are free. That means you can literally eat five of them per morning and still be following the plan. You’d assume that distinction would make them both a filling and nutritious breakfast option — right?
Well, maybe not. I mean, are eggs healthy?
A new study was published in JAMA, claiming that eating 300 milligrams of cholesterol on a daily basis will raise your chances of an early death by 18 percent.
Since one egg yolk is 185 mg — yikes.
“Any level of egg consumption is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality, because we found a dose-response association,” lead researcher Wenze Zhong said to Runner’s World.
“Greater consumption means higher risk.”
So, is it time to freak out just yet? Because, 18% is a high number, and heart health is no joke.
But eggs are such an important staple in our diets.
Breakfast just isn’t the same without them. And even though cakes and desserts aren’t necessarily what you think of when you think about healthy, the fact that so many recipes include at least two eggs makes it a lot less celebratory.
Don’t freak out just yet. One of the main concerns about eggs is the cholesterol factor.
And according to Runner’s World, cholesterol limits were actually removed from the government’s Dietary Guidelines for America back in 2015.
It’s not great for you, but it’s not the enemy that many nutritionists once thought it was.
So there is no need to stress about having eggs in your diet, they are an extremely nutritious food (hence why they are called 'nature's multivitamin') - this is also a tiny detail in the bigger picture of healthy diet and lifestyle choices 🔗study link: https://t.co/GrA7N37poB
— Maeve Hanan (@DieteticSpeak) March 17, 2019
But, it’s still leaving people confused. With eggs, people are always so back and forth about whether or not their benefits outweigh their negative points.
MYTH:Eggs contribute to high cholesterol
— Niirahhs (@niirahhs) March 19, 2019
TRUTH:Eating an egg or two a day doesn’t raise the risk of heart disease in healthy people. pic.twitter.com/SFU3l0iuTB
Overeating eggs may mean you’re also overeating a bunch of other foods that might affect your health.
Enjoying some eggs, or eating them occasionally in the morning, probably won’t cause all that much harm.
Plus, think about all the other bad breakfast choices you could be making.
Eggs are more nutritious than that giant bagel with cream cheese, or a bowl of sugary cereal.
Usually, when trying to pinpoint healthy foods, it’s more about healthy habits. Everything can be enjoyed in moderation.
For example, is red meat good for you?
Not really. But if you enjoy a burger once a week and happen to abstain from it for the rest of your meals, you’re probably not doing much harm.
Your good choices will outweigh your bad.
Even though Beauty and the Beast’s Gaston made it look pretty cool, drinking down a ton of raw eggs won’t do wonders for your health. (Seriously guys, don’t try this at home.)
But enjoying a veggie omelet will keep you satisfied.
You can also make other heart-happy decisions during the day, like getting moderate exercise or keeping yourself on the right side of health.
Andrew Mente, Ph.D, took a look at the new findings and realized that a lot of the research didn’t totally add up.
“Buried way down in the appendix is a note that they found higher egg intake is related to a reduction in LDL, your bad cholesterol,” he told Runner’s World. “So, what’s driving the association in this research? It seems like there’s a contradiction with the findings.”
Everybody has different dietary needs. To find out what would work best for you, the best person to consult would be a doctor or nutritionist who can help you make healthier choices.
But in general, doctors probably won’t banish eggs from your diet, unless you’re already required to be on a low-cholesterol plan.
Cholesterol aside, eggs are a great form of protein — and they’re relatively cheap, if you’re on a budget.
Plus, you can make them in a microwave or on the stove. Obviously the latter tastes better than the former, but sometimes time is limited.
Just make sure to remember — everything in moderation.
